AMERICAN LEAGUE ROUNDUP : Ryan Wins Fourth in a Row, 5-2

Nolan Ryan was a little slow getting started this season, but he is making up for lost time.

Ryan, who did not get a victory until his 13th start, overcame wildness to win his fourth game in a row.

Although he walked six batters, Ryan (4-3) gave up only two hits in seven innings Thursday night at Arlington, Tex., in the Rangers’ 5-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles.

“It was not one of my better nights,” said Ryan, who struck out four. “I was so inconsistent the first three innings that I really just tried to throw strikes and get ahead of the hitters.

“I think the fastball got better later on, and I threw some strikes with the curveball later on.

“But if my luck wasn’t too good earlier, this helped make up for it. The balls they hit good went right at the fielders.”

It was a weak start to the second half of the season for the Orioles after an impressive record before the All-Star break.

Ryan gave up a double to David Segui in the second inning and a single to Mike Devereaux in the third, when the Orioles scored their runs. But thereafter, until giving way to Floyd Bannister in the eighth inning, Ryan was tough.

“Once Nolan settles in, he’s a tough pitcher to beat,” said Rick Sutcliffe, the loser. It was the fourth time the two veterans hooked up, the first since 1987.

Rafael Palmeiro started the assault on Sutcliffe (10-9) when he hit a two-run home run, a 412-foot smash, in the first inning. Sutcliffe gave up nine hits in six innings.

Since his early struggles, Ryan, 45, has pitched well. In his last four starts he has pitched 30 innings, giving up 17 hits, six runs--five of them earned--and has struck out 32.

Although he had some strong early outings, Ryan, who has won 318 games, did not get his first victory until June 28.

Oakland, 4, Detroit 0--In his third start for the Athletics, Kelly Downs had a no-hitter for five innings and gave up only two hits before being replaced in the eighth.

Rickey Henderson, just off the disabled list, led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run. It was the 52nd time he opened a game with a home run.

The A’s also welcomed back Jose Canseco. Canseco, who was sidelined because of a shoulder problem, didn’t get a hit, but he walked twice and scored a run.

The Athletics have won four in a row, three of them two-hitters. They have pitched 25 consecutive scoreless innings.

Minnesota 7, Boston 6--With Greg Gagne emerging from a lengthy slump with three hits, the Twins outlasted the Red Sox at Minneapolis for their fourth victory in a row to stay two games ahead of Oakland in the West.

Gagne’s single broke a 5-5 tie in the sixth inning, and the Red Sox never caught up again.

The Twins built a 5-1 lead for Kevin Tapani, who had won four in a row and nine of his last 10, but he squandered it.

The Red Sox scored four in the sixth to tie the game.

Kevin Willis (4-2) pitched one inning to get the victory, and Rick Aguilera pitched the ninth to pick up his 27th save.

Chicago 5, Milwaukee 4--George Bell singled home Tim Raines with the winning run with one out in the 12th inning at Chicago to give the White Sox a comeback victory.

Chicago came from behind in both the ninth and 10th innings to tie the game before finally ending its three-game losing streak.

In the ninth, trailing, 4-2, Steve Sax doubled home one run and Lance Johnson singled home Sax with the tying run.

In the 10th, the Brewers took the lead on an RBI single by Kevin Seitzer. The White Sox sent it into the 11th when Raines singled, stole second and scored on Frank Thomas’ single.

Raines led off the 12th against Dan Plesac (3-3) with a single. Thomas walked before Bell delivered.

Kansas City 3, Cleveland 2--George Brett had two hits, including his 622nd double, and the Cleveland defense helped the Royals prevail at Kansas City.

Two errors spoiled the Cleveland debut of Jose Mesa (3-9). Mesa, acquired from Baltimore on Tuesday, gave up five hits in six innings but was the loser.

Hipolito Pichardo (4-4) gave up five hits in six innings to get his first victory since June 28.

Toronto 7, Seattle 2--Jeff Kent hit a three-run homer during a five-run eighth inning as the Blue Jays won in front of 52,711 at the Kingdome.

Seattle starter Randy Johnson (5-10) left after giving up a leadoff single to Joe Carter in the eighth. But relievers Brian Fisher, Juan Agosto and Jeff Nelson were unable to halt the rally, which included RBI singles by pinch-hitter John Olerud and Devon White.

Jack Morris (11-3) went seven strong innings for the victory. He limited the Mariners to six hits--four of them infield singles--struck out five and walked six.